This one will always be special. I first watched a rental copy of American Psycho in 2001. I was mightily impressed by the tone and the performances, but there was something else. Something that I had to loudly exclaim at my friends.
“That Bale bloke would be a cracking Bruce Wayne”.
Who knew eh?
As a bonus, I’ll quickly review the book, as this is the first time I’ve seen the film since reading it.
I did not like it at all. Brett Easton Ellis’s tale contained a level violence and depravity that I couldn’t buy into, even as a dark satire. Entire chapters of the book could never be realistically translated to film.
The film on the other hand is darkly hilarious throughout, capturing the vacuous and selfish style that has become synonymous with the eighties. Bale’s Bateman perfectly encapsulates this, with his behaviour, voiceover, and how he interacts through a veneer of normality with his, girlfriend and friends.
The way he turns when talking to a homeless person and his dog, from friendly and helpful to abusive and murderess is morbidly brilliant. Add this to the commitment shown to achieve the Olympian physique that Bateman maintains, and you have a career defining performance. Just remember…not the face!!
American Psycho is still a fucked up a story, but the film tells it with a much more obvious wink. You get the same message, and some wonderful performances, but without the frankly unnecessary gruesomeness.
Plus, Sussudio is a great track.
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